Whether it's that pulsating pain of a migraine, or the vice-like grip of sinus congestion, nobody likes a headache. Headaches (and their causes) are all different. With that in mind, here are the causes and treatments for the most common headaches.

According to the National Headache Foundation, at least 150 different variations on headaches exist, and they range from being caused by not eating to genetics. That said, most of us will never (hopefully) feel all 150 types. A few common types exist that we're all prone to. Here's how to deal with them.

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Tension Headaches

Tension headaches are the most common headache for most of us experience. They're accented by mild to moderate pain, tightness, and pressure in the forehead (or back of the neck). Typically, the pain is "throbbing" and although annoying, doesn't usually ruin your day.

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Causes: Since a tension headache is so common, the causes are pretty widespread. They're caused by anxiety, eye strain, caffeine, food, poor rest, bad posture, stress, hunger, or just about anything else you change in your daily schedule. Tension headaches are also usually the type of headache you end up with after a night of alcohol. Essentially, if something is abnormal about your day, whether it's a late lunch or a series of deadlines at work, a tension headache might pop up.

Prevention: Tension headaches are best prevented by tuning your routine to minimize potential triggers. It's a little trial-and-error to find the exact cause of a tension headache, but if you know they come around when you're stressed, hungry, or tired, then you can work on preventing them. Even certain food allergies can trigger a headache.

If you get a headache (or you're getting them a lot), think back through the day and see what you did differently. If something stands out, it might be the trigger. If you need a little help, Tylenol's Headache Tracker makes it simple to track you day and root out the causes.

Migraines

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Migraines are typically described as a moderate to severe pounding pain that can last from three hours to several days. You also get symptoms like sensitivity to light, noise, or odors, as well as nausea and loss of appetite.

Sinus Headaches

Sinus headaches are when you have a constant pain in the bridge or your nose, around the cheek bones, or forehead. The painful headache is also usually accompanied by other unpleasant symptoms like ear aches, fever, swelling in the face, and a runny nose.

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Causes: A sinus headache comes about when the sinus gets inflamed, usually from an allergic reaction (that causes sinus congestion) or infection (like a cold or flu). As the sinuses get inflamed, the inflammation causes swelling and increased mucus so everything gets blocked up.

Of course, if the infection comes from a cold or flu, then your best idea is to avoid getting sick. A good amount of sleep, washing your hands, and cutting out cigarettes and alcohol are the best way to prevent illness. That said, a little steam is good for preventing colds as well. Photo by Eunice.

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As we mentioned at the outset, 150 different kinds of headaches exist with a variety of causes. If headaches are a repeating problem, it's good to visit your doctor. You should expect them to ask about the frequency, time, type of pain, other symptoms, sleeping patterns, and more to help them diagnose the problem.